Cod Beck, North Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cod Beck |
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Cod Beck Reservoir at sunrise
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| Country | England |
| Counties | North Yorkshire |
| District | Hambleton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | River Swale, Yorkshire Leckby Grange, North Yorkshire |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Cod Beck is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It's an important river that flows through the countryside. The area of land that collects water for Cod Beck is about 209 square kilometers (that's about 81 square miles!).
The river stretches for about 20 miles (32 kilometers). It starts high up near Cod Beck Reservoir at Osmotherley. This spot is on the edge of the beautiful North York Moors. From there, it flows through the town of Thirsk. Finally, it joins up with a bigger river called the River Swale near Topcliffe.
Why is it called Cod Beck?
The name Cod Beck actually comes from Cold Beck. A "beck" is a small stream or river. This stream runs quite deep between its banks. This means the water stays fairly cool all the time. So, it's not named after cod fish, which don't live in fresh water anyway!
Flooding in Thirsk
For a long time, Cod Beck has caused floods in the town of Thirsk. Flooding happens when a river overflows its banks. This can cause a lot of damage to homes and businesses.
In 2005, a study looked at ways to stop the flooding. It suggested building more flood defenses. It also recommended storing water upstream, which means holding it back before it reaches the town. However, in 2011, a plan to build these defenses in Thirsk was cancelled. This happened because the Environment Agency, which helps manage rivers, had its budget cut.
Places Along the River
Cod Beck flows past or through several towns and villages. Here are some of them, starting from where the river begins:
- Osmotherley
- Ellerbeck
- Foxton
- Kirby Sigston
- Thornton-le-Street
- North Kilvington
- South Kilvington
- Thirsk
- Sowerby
- Dalton
After Dalton, the Cod Beck joins the River Swale.
